Bellarmine’s Outreach Program is structured to attract and support first-generation college-bound, low-income students. The program was started in 2001 and is based on the vision of Jesuits West: "to be a community of Jesuits and apostolic partners formed by the Gospel and the Spiritual Exercises to expand Jesus' ministry of healing, reconciling, and teaching, in service of the diverse peoples of the West."
Bilingual support (Spanish-English) is available to students and their families during the application process and throughout their time at Bellarmine. The Outreach office serves as an additional resource to students and parents by partnering with Personal Academic Counseling and College Guidance in order to provide a comprehensive, personalized support program that meets the needs of the first-generation college-bound student. The support program starts after admission to Bellarmine, with students being identified based on parental education levels and household income.
Cultural Events at Bellarmine
We believe that our programming should reflect the varied backgrounds of our community. The Bellarmine Mothers' Guild (BMG) hosts five flagship events for the entire school community—students, parents, faculty, and staff— which reflect the broad ethnic and cultural diversity of our families: Diwali (Indian Festival of Lights), Fiesta de Guadalupe Mass and Brunch, Santo Niño Celebration, the Black Student Union Cultural Event, and the Lunar New Year Dinner. These events are coordinated by the BMG Diversity Liaisons, board-level positions whose purpose it is to reach out to and engage families through cultural programming.
Ethnic and Cultural Clubs at Bellarmine
A variety of student-run ethnic and cultural clubs are active on campus. These clubs, which are open to all students regardless of background or affiliation, provide the opportunity for exploration into cultural practices, and foster an appreciation of the diversity on our campus. Examples of current clubs include the African American Student Union, Filipino Student Association, Italian Heritage Club, Latino Student Union, and Vietnamese Student Union.